BURLEY TROJANS....0

PATELEY BRIDGE....2

BURLEY Trojans surrendered three points to Pateley Bridge with a woeful display on The Rec on Saturday. In their first home fixture of the campaign, the home side were second best throughout and had stand-in 'keeper Phil Constantine to thank for keeping the scoreline respectable.

With a number of players still unavailable, manager Chris Worts had precious few options to shake things up and Bridge had probably the most comfortable afternoon they will enjoy all season.

Trojans fell behind as early as the tenth minute when a visiting forward escaped his marker at a corner to head home unchallenged from six yards. Lacking any real invention Trojans continued to labour and created little in front of goal and were fortunate to go in at the break only one down.

The home side re-grouped during the interval and did show a bit more spirit in the second period. In fact they spurned a glorious chance to steal an equaliser on 50 minutes. A superb flowing move down the right flank involving Matt Steer and Andy Vowles led to Matt Hawnt skipping clear of his marker. As he cut in and reached the byeline he laid the ball back to skipper Nick Quaife who skied over with the goal at his mercy.

Trojans were to regret that miss as they lost centre-half Stuart Dibb with a hamstring injury and, with no cover on the bench, were forced to play out the last 30 minutes with ten men.

Trojans' goal led a charmed life as a combination of poor finishing and brilliant shot stopping kept the margin to one. Constantine's best save was when he flung himself to his right to turn a Graham Wilcox piledriver on to the bar. He was powerless to prevent the visitors sealing things with fifteen minutes remaining when Roger McGivern rifled home a rebound after the 'keeper had kept out the initial effort. At least the Trojans 'keeper had the consolation of match point to show for his sterling afternoon's endeavours.

Trojans had no answer to the workmanlike approach of their visitors and, with results going against them on Saturday, they slipped four places in the early season table.

l On Saturday Trojans entertain newly promoted Northallerton Town Reserves who have made an impressive start in the top flight, kick-off 3.00pm.

Harold Styans Res......4

Trojans Res.................1

It was a black weekend all round for Trojans as the Reserves' early season form evaporated in a comprehensive defeat in Harrogate which saw their opponents leapfrog them in the table.

Travel difficulties led to Trojans kicking-off with only nine men and they managed to contain their hosts for the first 15 minutes. Restored to full strength Trojans conceded two first-half goals through some sloppy defending. They fell further behind after the break when the referee chose to overrule an off-side flag.

Veteran striker Pete Spivey showed his class to cut the deficit when he powered a bullet header home from Gareth Goodison's excellent cross.

Right-back Scott McDonald helped to keep the scoreline respectable with a couple of last ditch goal-line clearances before the home side made things safe with a fourth goal near the end.

l Trojans welcome back several players next week when they are again in Harrogate, this time against relegated Christ Church Old Boys, kick off 3.00pm.